Some Koala pix

On the afternoon of Christmas Eve a neighbour reported a Koala in the big Angophoras behind our houses.  It had climbed up the tree and gone to sleep in a convenient fork (about 10m up). 

We wondered if it was visible from our deck, but a clump of foliage was in the way.   However a little later another message reported the chubby chappie was feeding in a eucalypt out the front.  Not only feeding but sitting right on top of the tree.

Definitely feeding, and the tree concerned is a popular garden planting.  Comments about Koalas only eating a few species of peppermint are incorrect: they seem to eat a wide range of members of the family Myrtaceae.

On our morning walk on Christmas Day we were very pleased to see another Koala - in fact 2 - crossing Lakeside Drive.

Having recovered her breath, Mum decided a Melaleuca armillaris needed to be climbed.

She then changed her mind about which tree needed to be ascended.  Junior seemed a little uncertain about her ability to finish this move.

However when we returned they were both up in the canopy and - judging by the munching noises - Melaleuca (also in the family Myrtaceae) is in the diet.

A Big Weekend in Mallacoota

 As is traditional with Big Weekends, this one starts on Thursday.  That is mainly because it was ANZAC Day: given the Victorian Governments love of adding Public Holidays at the drop of a Union endorsement, I am surprised that 26 April wasn't so declared.  Surely Flathead Capture Day would be worth celebrating?  At least as good as Melbourne Cup Day or -for 💩's sake - Grand Final Eve!

The Mallacoota Pony Club is filling the void left by the RSL running out of members by arranging a ride to the Bunker Museum.  I think they had 22 riders of various ages and sexes on equines of various sizes.  Very well done that Pony Club!

Thelwell eat your heart out!

A fair squad of folks (and dogs) walked behind the hosses from Betka.

While a bunch of others had driven to the Bunker.

The next day I was returning from Bastion Point and had to swerve on Betka Rd to avoid an unruly, and somewhat portly, pedestrian.  She - I think - was very obliging in posing.

Eventually she declared that tree inadequate, and headed off across Bastion Point Rd showing a fair turn of speed ....

... and then headed for the hills.

The sea harvest event is on this weekend so lanterns have been positioned in Coulls Inlet.  They will be illuminated for the next few nights.

Here are the lanterns by night!

Heron, Koala and Lewin's Rail.

 After a fairly pastel sunrise ....

... I took a ride to Bucklands this morning and it was quite productive.  The interest started at Mullet Creek where I heard a surprising noise (pause for James Brown /Blues Brothers reference).  What I heard was not the jingle jangle of 1000 lost souls but rather like a Channel-billed Cuckoo.  However on exploring a little I think it more likely to be someone doing carpentry with a rough-running circular saw.  

On, on to Bucklands parking area where the Nankeen Night-Heron was visible.  It didn't seem as agitated as it has recently and a photo with small camera was possible.

I also spotted a Dusky Moorhen over by the small dam so, after years with them mainly being reported from Gipsy Point or Genoa (and only infrequently), at least one seems to have set up residence.  A Wonga Pigeon was wandering about by the picnic tables.

Heading back to my bike I looked into the huge eucalypt and saw a rotund person lurking.  They seemed pretty happy with things.

Getting close to home I crossed with Frances going for a walk. 

 Soon after getting home she called me to say there were 2 Buff-banded Rails on the edge of the Inlet at Stingray Cove.  (Apparently this was the ID by a guy taking photographs.) So I zoomed down ... 

... and got a fleeting glimpse of one of them bolting for the reeds.  I hung about for a while and then spotted the second a bit further along the waterline.  I took a few photos!  Cutting to the chase, they showed it to be a Lewin's Rail, which seem to be more common around here.  I assume the other bird was also a Lewin's.  Here are a selection of my images.  210mm optical zoom only.

This one was taken using the 4X digital zoom so is a bit dodgy but would be good enough for ID .

Back to optical zoom only.

It didn't seem to mind getting its beak dirty!

I went back a little later with my 100-400mm lens and although the bird was a lot further away got some reasonable shots.

A short ride in Mallacoota

 After successfully finding a Powerful Owl yesterday (by following directions given by other birders) I went back on my bike to try my luck again today.  When I got to the area there were my informants from the day before assisting another birder to photograph Rufous Fantails.  They knew why I was there and advised that:

1. the Owl was there but had shifted across the creek, and 
2. they had scratched a line on the dirt to mark the spot.

After a little searching my crappy eyes picked up the mark, and a gap in the foliage nicely framed the Owl.  It had no prey today, so just as well it had surplus bat yesterday.

Riding home I had just got to the boardwalk area and noticed  bunch of folk peering into the bushes.  On stopping there was a chubby chappie (or chapess) peering out.

As I started the ascent of Mount Angophora I noticed a Whistling Kite posing nicely.  Needless to say it bolted at the sight of the camera but after a swerve round another Angophora it perched to adjust a small bird it had picked up en route.  At 150m range I couldn't get a clear look at the prey, but suspect there is 1 less New Holland Honeyeater around.  The Red Wattlebird looks totally unfussed.

Some Photos of Nature in November

 The first couple of snaps are of a local identity who strolled across Angophora Drive as we came back from our morning walk

Later that day the very strong wind (the daily run of 494 km was the third longest I have recorded here) made interesting patterns on Bottom Lake.  I'm sure if we had been unwise - or desperate - enough to be out there in our kayaks we'd call them waves, but power boaters would call them ripples.

On the afternoon of 11 November we went for a stroll on what little beach is left at Bastion Point.  On getting round the corner an angler was hauling something in.  It turned out to be this attractively coloured stingray, identified on iNaturalist.org as a Southern Eagle Ray.  

The captor released the fish, pushing it back into the water with the butt of his rod announcing "I don't want to end up like Steve Irwin."

Later in the evening it looked as though we were going to get some serious rain ..

.. accompanied by a son et lumiere performance.

We only scored 1.6 mm of rain (and a later, larger, cell was completely diverted around us).  There were a few flashes and bangs however,